Wycliffe and the English Bible

1254 Words3 Pages

In a survey of 2,000 Americans 84 percent own more than one Bible, the average person has 4 copies of the English Bible in their home. 37 percent read the Bible every day, 22 percent read it 3-5 times a week, 22 percent read it 1-2 times a week, 11 percent read it 2-3 times a month, and 8 percent read it only once a month (Poll). If people knew the pain, loss, and fear that the early people had to go through to translate the Bible into English, maybe people would read and take care of the Bible better. Without the English translation of the Bible people wouldn’t know God’s truth for themselves.
In 1324 John Wycliffe was born in Ipreswel, near Yorkshire.
His family was of early Saxon origin, long settled in Yorkshire. 1324 is the year usually given for Wycliffe’s birth. Wycliffe probably received his early education close to home. It is not known when he first went to Oxford, with which he was so closely connected till the end of his life (English).
At Oxford Wycliffe was known for being an English theologian, philosopher, church reformer, and promoter of the first complete translation of the Bible into English (Wycliffe). He was not able to get his doctorate of theologian until 1372 because of periodic eruptions of the Black Death (Wycliffe). He because the most recognized theologian in all of Europe. Oxford was later blamed for Wycliffe’s actions (History). In 1374 he finally received the Crown of rectory of Lutherworth, with which his name is forever connected. There he lived continuously after his expulsion from Oxford in 1382, there he wrote his later works and collected his friends and missionaries (Trevelyan, 170). Throughout his lifetime, five papal edicts were issued for his arrest. Since England was distancing itself fr...

... middle of paper ...

...version was completed by his followers in 1388. After Wycliffe translated the Bible into English, each copy took ten months to write by hand (Wycliffe).
John Wycliffe spent his whole lifetime dedicated to the work of translating the Bible into English so the people could read it for themselves. He knew people needed to be able to find truth form themselves. All the people had to depend on before the English Bible was church officials, and the church officials twisted the truth to benefit them. Now the people could call the church officials out and share the real truth with others. People take advantage of the Bible today. Most people have probably never been taught or thought about what was done so we can have the Bible today. If people knew the story of Wycliffe and his followers they would probably read their Bibles more and take better care of it, I know I will.

Open Document